No deep-pocket decorator, general contractor, or color consultant.
Someone once said, "It’s not the destination; it’s the journey." For us, that journey started with a planned trip to Boca de Tomatlán—one that never happened due to the COVID pandemic and its travel restrictions. But as life often does, circumstances flipped, and we found ourselves on a new path that led to becoming the proprietors of Villa La Sirena. Together, Britt and I—an inventive father-daughter duo—are still navigating this creative adventure to keep the Villa as a unique reflection of our combined tastes.
It’s funny, really. We somehow managed to blend our seemingly opposite character traits into a working harmony. Britt brings her meticulous scientific mindset and inspired artistic zeal, while I contribute my mechanically-inclined, semi-artistic perspective, along with the practicality of an engineer and project manager.
Initially, we thought we'd establish the Villa as a short-term rental right away. But our artistic and perfectionist tendencies wouldn’t allow that. While the Villa’s architecture and traditional Mexican hacienda vibe were charming, the interior felt dated, and its color scheme didn’t resonate with us. Add to that a kitchenette and dining essentials that were far from wonderful, and it became clear that achieving our vision of a cozy mix of tradition and boho flair would require significant time—and many pesos.
As for the color palette, I’m not exactly sure how it all came together. Perhaps it was loosely inspired by the Mexican tones we had already used for the Villa’s logo and marketing materials. With input from our long-time graphic designer, Kista, we landed on a blend of orange, cream, and accents of blues and greens. For those with a creative eye, these colors might evoke the sunshine, sunsets, water, sky, and lush tropical flora of the surrounding forest.
This project has been as much about the journey as the destination—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
La Sirena – What’s in a Name?
The name "La Sirena," which means "The Mermaid" in Spanish, didn’t come out of nowhere. Britt, the creative and feminine half of our ownership duo, has always had a deep love for the beach, the ocean, and—most notably—mermaids. Her mermaid obsession was legendary, as anyone who’s ever seen her collection of birthday cards and gifts can attest. So, it only made sense that this creativity and passion carried over to the Villa.
In Boca de Tomatlán, like many small villages, addresses aren’t exactly straightforward. Forget numerical street signs—what we had was “Gaviota 110,” which lacked charm and personality. A bold, recognizable identity was needed, and the mermaid theme was the obvious choice. To bring this vision to life, we decided to replace the rather unremarkable garage doors with a striking mermaid mural. It was a practical move, too—directions to the Villa suddenly became simple: take the exit off the highway, stay on Pelicanos until you hit the water, turn left for about a quarter mile, and look for the Mermaid. Even the Boca locals embraced it, using a few hand gestures and the word “Sirena” to guide logistically challenged visitors right to our doorstep.
After purchasing the property in early 2019, we set out on a renovation journey. At first, the plan was modest: just some updates to the interior to remove outdated concrete and stucco elements that had been there for over 20 years. We wanted to create a more open, modern feel while staying true to the traditional hacienda architectural style.
With Britt’s artistic eye leading the way, we finalized a color palette that reflected our vision—warm, inviting, and inspired by the natural beauty around us. The renovation quickly expanded, focusing heavily on both interior and exterior painting. To make the paint truly shine, we put significant effort into repairing and refining the exterior stucco. The Villa’s once bland exterior transformed into something bright and full of life, radiating warmth and charm. To tie it all together, we introduced green trim accents from the color scheme, adding a vibrant touch to the refreshed exterior.
Villa La Sirena has become more than just a name or a place—it’s a reflection of us, a blend of creativity, tradition, and the love of something magical.
From April to November, the renovation at Villa La Sirena was a labor of love, touching every surface to bring the place to life. Every piece of wood was either refinished or replaced, and I had the chance to dive into my carpentry hobby to design new Parota wood additions. Locally sourced, this beautiful wood became bathroom vanity tops, bedside tables, headboards, plant stands, shutters, and outdoor furniture. One exception was a set of small tables crafted by our local carpenter, Enrique, from a Primavera log we found tucked away in the garage—waste not, want not, right?
As the retired co-owner, I spent those months supervising the project. Britt made trips down to bring her artistic touch, adding original art, ceramics, and décor she sourced from places like Puerto Vallarta and El Tuito (future blog coming about Galeria in El Tuito!). Her modern wood block wall hanging and eclectic canvas works added a unique flavor, blending creativity with a practical eye. Even now, we keep the Villa fresh with updates each winter, welcoming artists attending workshops at Casa de Las Artistas in Boca. Their positive feedback on the décor has been a big encouragement—our guests agree, too.
One of my favorite recent additions came from a trip to the remote beach village of Mayto, two hours south of Boca. Miles of empty beach and no one in sight—truly a hidden gem. We brought back cow skulls, which Zacundo, our trusty guard dog, inspected thoroughly upon arrival. After some grumbling, they passed his test, got shipped to San Diego for a little decoration, and returned to the Villa.
Every apartment at Villa La Sirena has its own unique charm but shares modern amenities: WiFi, TV, AC, fully equipped kitchenettes, gym access, beach gear, and potable water dispensers. Whether you're here for an extended stay or a short visit, everything you need is here.
So, come experience Villa La Sirena’s charm. Take a stroll down Boca’s quirky malecón with an adult beverage and enjoy the sunset—it’s a peaceful moment most evenings, far from the tourist crowds.
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